No moar relijanz!

Recently the speaker of the house of representatives in our humble country of Australia has called for public debate in relation to the lord’s prayer in Australian parliament. My thought on this is, good! We do need to start to separate church and state more in Australia as currently god is mentioned in our constitution and apparently in our taxation systems (I am going to look this up, but it was mentioned in a few articles. I would assume it is in reference to Church tax exemptions).

Here is the first couple of sentences in the Preamble of the Australian constitution:

Whereas the people of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, and Tasmania, humbly relying on the blessing of Almighty God, have agreed to blah blah blah blah Et caetera, et caetera.

Not only does this set a religious climate in the government and country at large, but it also alienates anyone who isn’t christian! Oh, and it obviously references the Queen, that decrepit old tradition that is based on the king/queen being appointed by GOD himself…anyway where was I? Oh yeah… I would have to say thank the flying fairy in the sky that someone in government is actually speaking out about this and not guiding us with a little nudge on the slippery slope towards a retarded “secular” government such as the USA’s today. I would like to think that a large amount of Australians hold secular values, whether or not they are religious or otherwise, and I am glad that we are starting to be represented. Let’s hope that this leads us to a truly secular nation that we can all be proud of.

Skeptics of Carlos taime!

Well it’s about that time again Carlos fans. The Skeptics of Carlos blog carnival has rolled into town once more for your skeptical entertainment.

Oh, by the way, recently I have been trying to analyze topics and issues from a “true-believer” start point. This is mainly because the other day a Mormon tried to convert me with his “techniques that he could try out on me” (or so his colleague whispered to him before they approached me). So I will be writing this carnival post from the view point of a true believer. *clears throat* Heh hem.

Have you ever gone to the doctors when you’re sick? I haven’t, prayer is all I need, but if I were to I wouldn’t be taking any advice from a doctor such as Karen Stollznow over at the skepbitch! She doesn’t even condone the use of popular “alternate” medicines such as homeopathy and chiropractic! Every time I get a cold I take homeopathic tablets and I’m better in 2-3 weeks, see it works! She must be nuts…and to talk to her mother that way? She must be an atheist. Oh and be very wary of the evil lesbian/sexually confused ghost, Klara that haunts Dr. Stollznow. We should probably perform an exorcism on that evil haunted house, she doesn’t believe it is haunted but I know it is! Armidale sounds like a dreadful place.

Next up is Naontiotami from Homologous Legs. He shows his obvious evil atheism and devil worship as he tries to pull the wool over our eyes about creationism in his article, Institute for Creation Research: Evolution: Real Science or Nonsense? Doesn’t he know that it is fact? And where does he get off slandering the good natured Christians at the ICR, they put a good twenty minutes into their research and he could at least give it the time of day and take it seriously.

Oh and there appears to be a new non-believer/infidel podcast doing the rounds. Gary Curtis and Tim van Gelder have decided to burden us with more sin as they delve into critical thought and logical fallacies. Again the foul atheists bow and scrape to their God of science and critical analysis. If you want to learn about debating why not find some of Kent Hovind’s debates, those are real eye openers plus I am pretty confident…No I am convinced that he would wipe the floor with these non-believers! Humbug indeed.

Andy (Dawkin’s and Randi’s lap dog) over at Thinking Is Real seems to think that us believers need saving. Well I have some “good news” for him, he is the one that needs to be saved. He seems to think we have a reason for why we are skeptical of something, but he is wrong, some things just make sense! For example, we are skeptical of evolution because it goes against Gods word right? Look around you! God made all of it, it’s so obvious! Where was I? Oh yeh, anyway, Andy is fighting for what he believes in (or is it what he doesn’t believe in? I can never tell with these atheists) so at least I can give him a small amount of credit.

Hm, the Podblack Cat? Is that even a real name? I don’t think so. And her tardiness would seem to indicate that she has not been touched by the Lord as she doesn’t care about other peoples time or feelings (:P)! But moving on from that. In her latest post she has written a short run down on skeptical films for people to watch and enjoy. I almost liked this article until she showed her obvious racist tendencies when she referred to the film Magicians, calling it a “black comedy”. Those damn non-believers always have to have a stab at someone!

Well, thanks so much for tuning in for another Skeptics of Carlos. Oh and if you are interested in a complete and utter heathen who is trying to indoctrinate the youth of Australia, you should read more of Skelliot’s blog. You can even submit your own articles to the web site he is building, The Young Australian Skeptics, which will be going live soon!

Palin lolz

Check out this article on Sarah Palin. Speculative, anecdotal and ridiculous but I wouldn’t put it past her saying something like this.

Huffington Post

“Palin said “she had seen pictures of human footprints inside the tracks,” recalled Munger”

Really? No…really? What pictures? Did she draw them with her crayons in grade 2? WHERE?! WHEN!? WHAT!? I’m hungry.

Hillsong…lol

Good old Hillsong Evangelical Church never fails to disappoint with hilarious antics. Recently a pastor for Hillsong Evangelical Church claimed he was diagnosed with “a quite aggressive form of cancer” and that it inspired him (with the help of the G.O.D) to write a hit evangelical pop song. It has come to light that he is a filthy lying con artist when it was found he had fabricated the cancer story. Isn’t lying a sin or something? I thought that good christians were above this sort of act. Oh well, seems yet again we get to have a good chuckle at the expense of hypocrisy.

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=618463

This isn’t a full post, I just found this interesting and humourous.

National Science Week

An orchestra of car horns blew as my brother slid across the bonnet of a Mercedes. He landed, cat like, on the other side and sprinted onto the side walk towards the Asia centre. I stumbled behind him followed closely by his good friend Kat, cars screeching to a halt as we failed to get out of the way of them. I saw my bro in the distance standing at the door of the Asia centre casually leaning against the wall. I felt obligated to get to the auditorium on time so I sucked in a large breath of air and bolted up to the building.

Took your time didn’t ya? We are going to miss the start of the talk.

Chuckled Josh.

We barrelled down the stairs and found a seat in the auditorium, luckily there were some fantastic seats right in front of the stage. We sunk into our seats gasping for breath.
Normally I don’t think we would have been this eager to get somewhere, but this was something special. It is National Science Week and we were off to see Michael Shermer and Lynne Kelly.

We were not disappointed. First was the Shermernator with his talk, Why Darwin Matters. Needless to say Shermer was fantastic. He lashed the key note with humourous asides and the core focus of the talk was highly persuasive. Well, persuasive to someone with an open mind. There was one old chap who stood up and disagreed with everything Shermer said. This on its own is fine, but when every argument he put forth was the same old creationist/religious apologist pre-debunked crap it kind of felt like he was trying to have a pissing contest. He brought out Shannon’s law (obviously completely misunderstanding how we measure information) and also reused the old Letters in a box analogy. It was a veritable shotgun blast of challenges that he most likely knew Shermer wouldn’t be able to address in full.

All in all it was a great talk and was very funny.

Next up was Lynne Kelly of the Victorian Skeptics. Her talk on Taromancy didn’t disappoint. She focused on cold reading and her personally made “Ancient Chinese” Tarot cardesque form of cold reading which used “masks”. She showed us how she works with a client and how even the most skeptical mind can be fooled if the cold reader is clever enough. The talk took a sombre note when she explained how psychics and pseudo-science can harm people with a truly sad story about a Melbourne couple who chose to forgo science based medicine at the advice of a psychic, ending in the death of a child.

This was definitely one of those talks that you wish you could take a non-skeptical friend or family member to. I hope in the future that we can have many more events like this and keep spreading scepticism and the scientific method. To continue the Science Week trend, later this week I’m going to the Melbourne museum to try and get into the fossil archives to take some photos for YAS.

Oh, I almost forgot, make sure you get your Young Australian Skeptic submissions in soon! The first articles are coming in now from people such as:- The Skepbitch, Podblack and Naotiotami! Your article can be about anything you want (as long as its science based or attempts critical thought) it can even be a video if you wish, or a sound bite. So hurry up!

The Unsinkable Rubber Duck…IS BACK

When a Christian says that creation proves that there is a Creator,..[atheists].. dismiss such common sense by saying “That’s just the old watchmaker argument.”

- Ray Comfort

I thought I would start this post off with a sparkling gem of wisdom straight from Ray Comforts blog, the jarringly humourously named, Atheist Central. Oh we are soooo jived, we should slink away now while we have the chance! I like this quote. Yeah that’s right, I like it. The reason I like it so much is because it is just so god damn dishonest and as a result, funny.

Let’s take a look at this “common sense” and try and see it for what it obviously is, dishonesty. Firstly, let’s look at the glaringly obvious false dichotomy, usually when we see a creation there is a creator. I would think most rational people understand this. I see a building, there was obviously a builder. When I was a kid playing with my Lego and Meccano (I saved duplow for the kids who played in the corner, like Ray Comfort, with the soft skulls), I was the creator. What Ray said however, I will assume, was an attempt to rationalise that god is the creator of all life – you, me, your dog etc. I guess it’s fine to believe this if you believe Santa is real and still put teeth under your pillow at night, but we live in the real world here and we need evidence to support our claims. A building and a living breathing organism are two very different things. I guess in a round about way Ray is correct, we were created, just not by an almighty overlord who floats in the sky wearing a cape and sporting a beard (because this explains nothing!). Our creator was evolution by natural selection.

So yet again here is the unsinkable rubber duck, back with avengeance – shitting in our bath water. Why is it that these people see what they say as common sense? Common sense to whom? Any honest person can see the fallacious logic of what Ray (and others) says instantly! I wish I could, through divine intervention perhaps (?), kill this argument forever right here and now but we all know that it will be around for a long time to come.

Rays latest blog post has a great image (drawn in crayon and smeared with clag) which shows his unending logical dishonesty. Check out the link and have a giggle for yourself. Poison the well much? Oh and isn’t it blasphemy to suggest a mere construction worker is in some way equal to god in his power!?

So hopefully I helped sink the rubber duck, I won’t hold my breath but lets all “pray” to the great Spaghetti Monster in the sky that the little yellow bastard stays down this time. That being said, I will leave you with this quote from Rays latest post.

Actually, it’s not me that says that every building has a builder and that logically leads to the truth that creation therefore proves that there is a Creator. God’s Word makes the intellectual condescension to make the obvious comparison. It says, “For every house is built by some man; but he that built all things is God” (Hebrews 3:4).

Oh…Right…God said it, great argument!

Education

Today I was browsing Homologous Legs and found an interesting link.

Oooh, The Atheist Experience (blog link)

I said, clearly impressed.

I then clicked on the link kindly provided by Mr Naontiotami and waited while the site loaded. A few seconds went by and the anticipation of more logical content had my juices flowing wildly (gross).

Yes, here it comes!

I exclaimed (in my mind of course, as I was in the library and people would of thought it strange that I was so excited by a particular website).

I sat on my chair dismayed moments later when I was faced with this screen.

Double You Tee Eff!

I didn’t expect a site regarding atheism to be banned by the tafe but, alas, it was. I was about to close the window and move on when I looked towards the bottom of the page and noticed this!

The warning signs to the onset of unstoppable rage set in as my eyes scanned the screen time and again. Occult. What the flying FUCK. The first image that came to my mind was some barry bowl cut blonde haired bible basher (alliteration, awesome) sitting at his computer at head office sucking on his cross and stroking his tiny IQ/epeen thinking he has won another battle for jebus by blocking atheist content from students.

I quickly googled “Christian” and clicked on the first couple of sites that came up. They all loaded quickly and with no blocks. My favourite one was the site proclaiming “God makes sense!”. I want to go on a rant about how atheism is the complete opposite of occult but because you are reading this blog I will assume you already agree with me there.

The madness doesn’t stop there. The Skeptics Guide to the Universe and Geologic podcast sites are also blocked from view by the same asshat at head office. In closing, YAY FOR EDUCATION.

Skeptic Questionaire!

I got “told” by the lovely Podblack to do this questionaire…so here it is. Hopefully you learn a little bit more about me! That is assuming that people still read my blog. Sorry for the big gap between posts. Anyway, here we go!

Q1. How would you define “atheism”?

I would define atheism as a lack of belief in any god. My style of atheism relates more to agnosticism than as a hard out denial of the possible existance of some sort of god. I call myself an atheist but only because I don’t like the fence sitting of the term agnostic. I would say I am a mixture leaning towards atheist rather than agnostic.

Q2. Was your upbringing religious? If so, what tradition?

My parents never really mentioned religion at all. I was brought up to think for myself.

Q3. How would you describe “Intelligent Design”, using only one word?

IDiocracy … lawlz

Q4. What scientific endeavour really excites you?

Paleontology is very exciting to me. I love hearing about ancient creatures that no one knew about previously. A recent find that I found intriguing was the dinosaur mummy found in the Hell Creek Formation Badlands of North Dakota with soft tissue and skin intact.

Q5. If you could change one thing about the “atheist community”, what would it be and why?

I would like to get more young people involved in thinking logically and questioning things humanity as a whole accepts without serious thought. Hence why I am making the Young Australian Skeptics website !

Q6. If your child came up to you and said “I’m joining the clergy”, what would be your first
response?

“Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmm”

Q7. What’s your favourite theistic argument, and how do you usually refute it?

“What if you are wrong and there is a god? Don’t you think you should go to church to save yourself?”
“I know there is a material world so I would prefer to live my life in the world I know exists rather than waste time on something that probably doesn’t exist. If I am wrong and there is a god and I end up going to hell, well then I’ll have all eternity to ponder my “sins” but right now I’m going to focus on what actually exists.

Q8. What’s your most “controversial” (as far as general attitudes amongst other atheists goes) viewpoint?

Eugenics….I’m kidding. I don’t really have any controversial views.

Q9. Of the “Four Horsemen” (Dawkins, Dennett, Hitchens and Harris) who is your favourite, and why?

I would have Dawkins babies. He enriched the way I think about religion, biology, evolutions and the scientific method.

Q10. If you could convince just one theistic person to abandon their beliefs, who would it be?

If I had a time machine it would probably be Jesus or Mohammed. Just because it would be fun to fuck with them.

Now name three other atheist blogs that you’d like to see take up the Atheist Thirteen gauntlet:

The Darwin Report

Carried the Cross

Homologous Legs

So yeah, I will do my best to be posting in the next few weeks. I have been through some stuff that has made me feel less motivated, but I am feeling better so yeah! Please come and read my blog…I promise cucumber and nipple related madness!

Do it for the kids.

In the future we will have flying cars, pet aliens, erotic robots and REAL virtual reality video gaming, and you know who is going to make all this totally kick arse awesome stuff? The young people of today. Yes, soon all of you old people will die and anarchy will ensue in the shape of a kid nation (except the kids won’t be kids anymore they will be adults…that is confusing).

I think it’s about time society started thinking about, well, me. By me I mean, the youth. I say this because my generation is the immediate future. The people who are currently at university in a lecture while I’m at home wagging tafe, the people who are actually at tafe while I’m wagging tafe. These people will be one day running our country, our businesses and our education system, and that day is not that far away. In a few years, this will happen, we will literally rule the world and it is ours and societies responsibility to educate Generation Y.

Thats why I am doing my part by building The Young Australian Skeptics website. The Young Australian Skeptics is all about educating and entertaining young skeptical minds as well as spreading awareness of the scientific method to young people. Construction of the site starts soon, but to begin I need content. When I publish the site I plan to use my own content as well as articles written by you! So send me your skeptical, educational and motivational articles. They can be about anything, science, religion, pseudoscience, meetings…anything!

So don’t dilly dally. Head over to the Young Australian Skeptics submission page (found at the top of the site) and submit your articles today!

Oh, and while I’m at it, take a look through my blog roll for naontiotami’s blog, Homologous Legs. He is another young skeptic who writes mainly on creation science. Make sure to check out his youtube channel also which can be found on his site. Keep your eyes open for other young skeptics on the net and make sure you support our future!
Skelliot

Demonic Coffee

Most charities, religious or not, do a fair amount of good work on the planet Earth. But sometimes the inner workings of charities and organisations go awry or completely barking mad. You see, Mercy Ministries, an evangelical christian group, have been doing their “best” to help poor women who suffer from mental health problems. The ministry works in conjunction with another well known christian group called Hillsong Church as well as coffee chain Gloria Jean’s. On the Mercy Ministry website they claim to be

“providing homes and care for young women suffering the effects of eating disorders, self harm, abuse, depression, unplanned pregnancies and other life controlling issues.”

A noble pursuit one would say, that is until you remember that these people believe in a literal heaven and hell, demons and angels and are probably the last people you should go to to help with mental health issues, let alone unplanned pregnancies. You see, three young women who broke away from the group have claimed that Mercy Ministries have been blaming their problems on “demonic possession” and even performed exorcisms that allegedly left the young women suicidal. Of course, Mercy Ministries have been quick to combat these claims in a letter that can be found on their website, here. Notice that none of the claims have actually been addressed in the letter which is written in a very loose manner and seems to dodge the main issue, that the organisation performs exorcisms.

This is another great example of religious-based “healing” having an ill effect rather than a positive one. What is the point of going to a form of “healing” that is considered alternative when you can take advantage of a science-based treatment that is demonstrably effective? Remember that there is medicine and then there is the rest, the alternative really isn’t an alternative. So next time a person walks towards you in a time of hardship with a Gloria Jean’s coffee in one hand and a cross in the other, punch them in the face*.

For further reading check out these links:-

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/03/17/2191256.htm

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2008/03/16/1205602228832.html

http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/they-prayed-to-cast-satan-from-my-body/2008/03/16/1205602228826.html

http://www.mercyministries.com.au

http://www2.hillsong.com/pages/default.asp?pid=170

P.s. Now for something completely different (kind of). Check out this site (link sent in by Leopold). It’s by a guy named TED! who claims he is the second coming of Jesus or some crap. Anyway, I got over it in the first couple of sentences and you will see why when you check it out. Give it a read and see if you can get further than me!

* (Disclaimer: Do not punch people in the face. It hurts them and you might go to gaol where worse things will happen to parts of you that you don’t want them to happen to. )